Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum

Summary

The Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum (Ukrainian: Український національний музей "Чорнобиль", Ukrayins'kyy natsional'nyy muzey "Chornobyl'") is a history museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, dedicated to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and its consequences. It houses an extensive collection of visual media, artifacts, scale models, and other representational items designed to educate the public about many aspects of the disaster. Several exhibits depict the technical progression of the accident, and there are also many areas dedicated to the loss of life and cultural ramifications of the disaster.

Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum
Український національний музей "Чорнобиль"
The museum facade and outdoor exhibition of liquidator vehicles
Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum is located in Ukraine
Ukrainian National Chernobyl Museum
Location within Ukraine
Established25 April 1992
Locationprovulok Khoryva, 1 (провул. Хорива, 1), Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates50°27′59″N 30°31′02″E / 50.466389°N 30.517222°E / 50.466389; 30.517222
Collection size7000+
DirectorIvan Gladush
Public transit accessKontraktova Ploshcha Metro Station ( Obolonsko–Teremkivska line); Tram Routes 12, 14, 18, 19
Websitewww.chornobylmuseum.kiev.ua
Symbolic display of road signs for the villages abandoned as a result of the disaster. To stress the tragedy of devastation, the signs are colored in black (instead of standard blue/white) and slashed with pink stripe (which designates "end of the settlement" on the actual signs). Above the signs is an authentic Khorugv from the abandoned village church.

Due to the nature of the subject material, the museum provides a very visually engaging experience.

The museum occupies an early 20th-century building which formerly housed a fire brigade and was donated in 1992 by the State Fire Protection Guard.

Liquidator Remembrance Book edit

The museum supports the "Remembrance Book" (Ukrainian: Книга пам'яті, Knyha Pam'yati) – a unique online database of Liquidators (Chernobyl disaster management personnel some of whom sacrificed their lives) featuring personal pages with photo and brief structured information on their input. Data fields include "Radiation damage suffered", "Field of liquidation activity" and "Subsequent fate". The project started in 1997, containing over 5000 entries as of February, 2013.[1] The database is currently available in Ukrainian language only. "Remembrance Book" is neither the only nor the complete nor official liquidators database but probably the only one open to public on the web.

Funding and patrons edit

The museum is founded and supported by the government of Ukraine and the local government of Kyiv. Private and foreign donations are also common. In particular, the museum has received funding from the Japanese government.[2]

Foreign languages availability edit

Guided tours in English and other Western languages may be organized, and many exhibit signs have already been translated to English. Recorded audio is translated in English, and other languages.

Location and public transport access edit

The museum is located at 1 Khoryva Lane (provulok Khoryva, 1), in historic Podil neighborhood of the city centre.

The nearest Kyiv Metro station is Kontraktova Ploshcha station on the Kontraktova Square, where stops of the various Kyiv tram, bus and marshrutka routes are also located. Car parking space near the museum is very limited.

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Memory
  2. ^ Japan extends grant for Chornobyl museum, Ukrinform (September 23, 2009)

External links edit

  • Official website
  • National Chernobyl Museum - museum page on the PRIPYAT.com community
  • Ukraine.com listing
  • Kyiv: Chernobyl Museum - article in TripAdvisor